Air-compressor.



No. 646,031. Patented Mar. 2'7, |900. J. D. MCKINNDN.

AIR COMPRESSOR.

(Applicaion filed Mar. 17, 1899.)

3 Sheets-sheet l.

(No Model.)

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(No Modul.)

WTNESSES Patented Mar..27, |900.

J. n. MGKINNON. Am compnesson.

(Application led Mar. 17, 1899.)

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IN VEN T OR Midi/Lm A tlormg/ N0. 846,03I. P-ateh'ied Mar. 27, |900. J.D. MCKINNON.

AIR- CDMPRESSUR.

(Application led Mar. 17, 1899.)

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES D. MOKINNON, OF PORTLAND, OREGON.

Ala-COMPRESSOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 646,031, dated March27, 1900.

Application filed March 17x 1 399| Tb @ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES D. MoKINNoN, ofv Portland, in the county ofMultnomah and State of Oregon, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Air-Compressors; and I do hereby declare the followingto be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such aswill enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make anduse the same.

My invention relates to an improvement in air-compressors, the object ofthe invention being to provide simple and efficient means for forcingair into a suitable tank and compressing it therein, which means shallbe so constructed and arranged as to operate positively to move thepiston in both directions and result in rapidly accumulating andcompressing air with the expenditure of a minimum amount of power. y

With this objectin View the invention consists in certain novel featuresof construction and combinations and arrangements of parts, ashereinafter setforth, and pointed'out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a face viewwith parts of theframing removed. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view. Fig. 3 is anenlarged sectional view through one of the cylinders, showing also partsconnected with the piston in the cylinder. Figs. 4 and 5 are viewsshowing the respective ends of one of the cylinders. 1 Fig. 6 is anenlarged detail view showing the connection of one of the arms 10 withthe frame.

A represents an upright framework of any desired form of constructionfor supporting, preferably in an upright position, the operating partsof the apparatus and their supporting frame or casing. The lattercomprises two plates B O, one somewhat larger than the other andsecurely bolted to framework A. Between these platesall the workingparts of the apparatus are disposed in a manner which will now bespecifically explained. A main driving-shaft 1 is mounted centrally inthe plates B C and projects laterally therefrom at both ends, suitablejournal-bearings 2 being secured to the plates for the accommodation ofsaid shaft. A suitable nut 3 is screwed on one end of the shaft 1, andto the other end of said shaft a ily-wheel Aing outlet-valve 23 bears.

Serial No. 709,491. (No model.)

i 11 is secured, while at a point intermediate of the ends of the shafta driving-pulley 5is fixed.

To the shaft 1, within the frame or casing formed by the plates B C, twowheels 6 7 are secured, and between said wheels a series of wheels 8(three being shown in the drawings) are mounted, the journals of saidwheels 8 being mounted in the wheels 6 7, at the peripheries of thelatter. Each wheel 8 is made with a peripheral groove 9 to insure'propercooperation with a series of arms 10, by means of which a series ofcompressors E are operated, each compressor consisting of a cylinder 11and a plunger 12.y One end of each arm 10 is pivotally connected to ablock 13, secured between the plates B O, and said blocks alsoconstitute stops for the free ends of the arms 10.

The cylinders 11 are secured between the plates, at the peripheriesthereof, and the plunger 12 of each cylinder is provided with a tubularextension 14, adapted to have free movement through a packing-ring 15^,secured in the inner head of the cylinder, and thus serve to guide theplunger and prevent all possibility of lateral strain thereon within thecylinder. Any desired number of compressors may be employed, but forconvenience of illustration I have shown six such cylinders andcoperating devices. The o uter head of each cylinder is provided with avalve-casing 15, divided into two compartments a b, each of whichcommunicates with the interior of the cylinder. A seat 16 is provided atthe inner end of the chamber a, and on this seat an inwardly-openinginlet-valve 17 bears. The stem 18 of valve 17 passes outer end saidstern is provided with a nut '20. A spring 21 enciroles the stem 18 andbears at its respective ends against the guidesleeve 19 and nut 20 tonormally press the valve 17 on its seat. The compartment b of thevalve-casing 15 also communicates with the cylinder and is provided atits inner end with a seat 22, on whichan outwardly-open- The stem 24 ofvalve 23 passes loosely through a guide-sleeve 25 and is retainednormally on its seat by means of a spring 26,encirclin g said stem andbearing respectively against the guiding- IOO sleeve and valve. Thecompartment b of the valve-casing 15 communicates, by means of asuitable pipe, with a storage-cylinder for compressed air. The innerhead of each cylinder is also provided with a valve-casing 26, havingtwo compartments a b', each communicating with the cylinder.

An inwardly-opening valve 27 is disposed within the compartment a ofcasing 26, and an outwardly-opening valve 28 is mounted in thecompartment b' of said casing. The stems of these valves are guided in amanner similar` to that above described in connection with the valves 17and 23, and the valves 27 and 28 are normally pressed against theirseats by flat springs 29 30, bearing respectively on the stems of saidvalves. The compartment b' is made with a coupling 31, with which asuitable pipe is connected for conveying air to the storage-tank. Thusit will be seen that each cylinder is provided at each end with twovalves-one for contracting the admission of outside air into thecylinder and the other for controlling the exit of air from the cylinderto the storage-tank. Each compressor is therefore double-acting, forcingair to the storage-tank and drawing fresh air into the cylinder at eachstroke of the plunger. To successfully accomplish this each plunger mustbe moved positively in both directions. I therefore employ the devicesnow to be explained.

Each plunger is connected by a plungerrod 32 with one of the arms 10, ata point near the free end of the latter. For the purpose of theconnection of the plunger-rod with arm 10 the inner end of said rod isbifurcated for the reception of the arm and each fork of the bifurcatedportion of the rod is provided with a laterally-projecting sleeve 34. Ashort shaft 35 passes through these sleeves and loosely through the arml0, disposed between them. The ends of the shafts 35 of twooppositely-disposed compressors are connected together by means of twoparallel pitmen 36, disposed at respective sides of operating mechanism,and each pitman is enlarged centrally between its ends and provided withan elongated slot for the accommodation of the main driving-shaft l.Thus it will be seen that the arms l0 and the plungers of thecompressors are connected together in pairs by the pitmen 3G, so that asthe main driving-wheel revolves and one of the wheels 8 engages andmoves one of the arms 10 the plunger immediately connected with said armwill be forced outwardly and result in forcing air through the valve 23to the tank, and that the plunger of the oppositely-disposed compressorwill be positively moved toward the inner end of its cylinder throughthe medium of the pitmen 36, and thus force air through the valve 28 tothe tank. At the same time fresh air will be drawn into the twocylinders, into the iirst through the valve 17 and into the otherthrough the valve 27. The pitmen 36 serve to return the plungers afterthey have been moved outwardly and also renders it possible topositively force air to the storage-tank during such return movement ofthe plungers.

My improvements are simple in construction and effectual in all respectsin the performance of their functions.

Various slight changes might be made in the details of construction ofmy invention without departing from the spirit thereof or limiting itsscope, and hence I do not wish to limit myself to the precise detailsherein set forth.

Having fully described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In an air-compressor, the combination with a frame, an annular seriesof cylinders mounted therein, inlet and outlet valves for each cylinderand a plunger in each cylinder, of a shaft mounted centrally in saidframe, pitmen connecting the plungers in pairs, each pitman having aslot centrally between its ends for the accommodation of said shaft, anannular series of wheels carried by said shaft, a series of arms, onefor each plunger, each arm pivotally connected at one end with the frameand pivotally connected near the other end to one of said pitmen inposition to be actuated by said wheels to reciprocate the pitmen andoperate the plungers connected therewith.

2. The combination of two parallel plates, a circular series ofcylinders secured between said plates, inlet and outlet valves at bothends of each cylinder, plungers in said cylinders, pitmen connecting theplungers in pairs, a shaft mounted centrally in said plates, two wheelsdisposed between said plates and secured to the driving-shaft, a seriesof wheels having their bearings in the peripheries of said firstmentioned wheels, and pivoted arms connected with the plungers in thecylinders and operated by said series of wheels.

3. The combination with two parallel plates, of cylinders securedbetween said plates, plungers in said cylinders, blocks secured betweensaid plates, arms pivoted at one end to said blocks and near the otherend to the plungers in the cylinders, said blocks constituting stops forsaid arms and means for moving said arms to reciprocate the plungers.

In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence oftwo subscribing witnesses.

JAMES D. MCKINNON.

Witnesses:

ALEX. BERNSTEIN, F. CLARNO.

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